Air raid shelter



Dec. 30, 1952 l. TARJAN AIR RAID SHELTER Filed Feb. 2, 1951 INVENTOR/STVA/v 72H-MN TTO/Vfy ll Z0 Patented Dec. 30, v 1952 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE AIR RAID SHELTER Istvn Tarjn, Chesapeake, Ohio ApplicationFebruary 2, 1951, Serial No. 209,136

2 Claims.

This invention relates to air raid shelters. More particularly theinvention pertains to means for converting cellars and other suitablerooms into bomb and explosion prooi enclosures which while protectingthe occupants against the effects of an explosion in said rooms arenevertheless adequately ventilated. Raid shelters are usually providedwith one or more doors.

It is an object of the present invention to provide in addition to theusual means for entering and leaving the shelter novel emergency meansfor this purpose. A further object is to provide an emergency exit meanswhich may be resorted to in the event the main exit becomes blocked.Another and important object is to provide an emergency exit means whichwhile aiording protection to the occupants of the room against theeiiects of an external explosion, such as the bursting of a bomb, alsopermits fresh air to circulate within the room for the comfort of theoccupants. It is an important object to provide an emergency exit whichwhile adapted to withstand the force oi an external explosion isnevertheless adapted to be easily and quickly opened.

Other and further objects and the advantages of the invention will bebrought out as the following specication is read in conjunction with thedrawings forming a part thereof in which:

Figure l is a front elevation of an emergency k exit embodying myinvention.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross section of Fig. 1, on the line 2 2.

Figure 3 is a rear elevation, partly in section,

of the emergency exit device as seen from the room interior.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of Fig. 3, on the line 4--4.

Figure 5 is a plan view of Fig. 3, in the line 55.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the elements composing a partof my invention.

In the drawings 'l is a side wall of the room or enclosure and into thewall is built an upper guide member 8 having a U-shape groove formed inits lower face designated as 9. A similar guide member I0, positioneddirectly below and spaced from guide member 8, is provided with aU-shape slot in its upper face. Secured within the guide space affordedby the two U-shape grooves, are the end spacer members I2 and i3, whichare spaced apart to provide an exit or escape opening for a person.Normally this longitudinal opening is occupied by a plurality ofclose-fitn ting, closure elements I4 which are adapted to be trackway tocompletely fill the space between the spacer members I2 and I3.

To permit the insertion and removal of the closure elements I4, as shownin Fig. 3, a key-block I5, which is fitted in a groove I6, cut below oneof the closure elements I4, is adapted to be removed, whereupon as saidelements are moved into registry with the space from which saidkey-block has been withdrawn, they drop downwardly into this opening,are thus disengaged from the guide members and may be easily andconveniently removed when it is desired to open the emergency exit. And,reversing the steps, the closure elements may be re-inserted, one byone, and moved to the right until the space is filled theree bywhereupon the key-block is put in place to lock the elements inposition. For convenience in handling the closure elements l they may beprovided with a suitable handle Il and to insure relatively tightclosure, as shown in detail in Fig. 6, the elements I4 may be providedwith a tongue I8 on one face and a groove I9 in the opposite face sothat the said elements interlock when assembled longitudinally in a wellknown manner. Also as shown in Fig. 6, a groove 20 is formed in theabutting faces of the elements I4, this groove being substantiallyS-shape, so that when two of the elements are brought together air mayenter at 2l and leave through 22. A purpose of this S-shape channel isto oifer resistance to the velocity and pressure of an explosiveshock-wave thereby nullifying the effect on the occupants of the shelterwhile at the same time affording ventilation thereto. Further, asexplained, this means while affording safety also provides an easy meansof escape.

Having illustrated and described a preferred i embodiment of myinvention I desire it to be understood that my prime object is toprovide an emergency exit for bomb shelters and the like which whileaording protection against the direct action of a bomb explosion or thelike also permits air circulation for ventilation and at the same timeprovides an easy and convenient means of escape in an emergency. Changesmay be made in the construction of my device without departing from thespirit of the invention as set forth in the claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. 1n an emergency opening in a bomb shelter having a frame with upperand lower grooves for receiving closure elements, the combination of aplurality of elongated closure elements adapted to be inserted in theframe with the upper and lower ends disposed in said upper and lowergrooves, longitudinally disposed tongues upon one edge of each closuremember and each member having a longitudinal groove for receiving thetongue of the next adjacent closure member, the closure members as agroup having groove portions complementing each other upon theirmutually facing sides forming openings upon both sides at a differentpredetermined level on one side with respect to the other, and saidclosure members yalso having longitudinally disposed groove portionsupon said mutually facing sides thereof interconnecting the rstmentioned groove portions to complement each other and form ductsinterconnecting the openings of one level with the openings at the otherlevel within the outline of said closure members.

2. Closure elements for an opening in a bomb shelter according to claiml, wherein the openings upon the outer side of the closure members as agroup arey located at a high level and the openings on the inner side ofthe same group are located at a 10W level, so that the openings upon oneside are completely out of line horizontally with respect to theopenings on the other side.

ISTVN TARJAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following. references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

